What happened in French Lick

Pete Buttigieg pepped up Hoosier Dems and Mitch Daniels' darkhorse 2024 candidacy hovered over the gathering, as both parties want the two to be their respective nominees.

FRENCH LICK—Democrats spent the weekend pining for what might have been—and what at least some of them still hope could be. In an alternate universe, Pete Buttigieg might have soft-launched his 2024 gubernatorial campaign at this historic resort this weekend. After all, it was here where Franklin Delano Roosevelt used a Democratic Governor’s Conference in 1931 meeting to build support for his 1932 presidential campaign. It was here where Buttigieg introduced himself to Hoosiers 13 years ago this month ahead of his state treasurer campaign.

This weekend, though, Buttigieg, the new Michigander, rallied Indiana Democrats ahead of what is shaping up to be a difficult cycle for them at the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association conference.

Courtesy of Indiana Democrats.

But the mood here was not dour. It was, instead, celebratory. The same kind of black and white spray-painted MEET PETE signs that dotted the rural roads leading up to the resort back in 2009 popped up again this year. There were Pete buttons and Pete campaign signs. One attendee even sported a vintage Pete for State Treasurer shirt.

“It's emotional to be here,” Buttigieg said, flanked by his security detail. “I could tell you my life story just in terms of the different times that I came here.”